Book Clubs

[Corinne]

So, I'm curious. How many of us are in a book club? Is it online or in "real life?"

[S. Krishna]

I'm not in a book club, but I've been looking for one for a long time! No one I knows reads, which makes it difficult!

[Susan]

That is such a shame. I belonged to 3 book clubs in NJ. When I moved to SC
I tried a few book clubs around. 2 at the library which was more of a social group and they read mainstream books not literal. I hated it. I then decided to try and make one myself. Did not get enough people.
Then at my religious sanctuary a friend of mine was telling me her friend wants to start a book club. Well, she did not like the book club. So I decided to run it and I have been doing it ever since. It just kind of fell in my lap.
I was getting frustrated untill this happened. I did have another book club but that kind of fell apart there was only a few that were committed to it.
We are going to try to open it again and see what happens.
You never know what can happen and expect. Or maybe this blog can start a online book club.
I

[Miriam Parker]

I'd love to participate in a book club on this site. I have a huge pile of advance copies of THE BIBLE SALESMAN by Clyde Edgerton here which comes out in August. If folks would be interested in discussing it (it's SOO good), I can send books out to you. Let me know.

[Patricia]

I helped form a "real live" book club just a month ago. I tend to be somewhat introverted and I know I'm happier when I push myself (or get a push) to socialize a bit more than I am inclined to. This is the second club I've helped form and I've loved the discussions, the opportunity to read things that I normally might pass over, and making friends.

Patricia

[Susan]

I belong to a book club that I started 3 years ago called The 38th St. Diva Readers,
you can check it out on my blog. It is a live book club. 38thstdivareaders.blogspot.com. It is not a online book club. I have never been in one but I would like to join one.
I have seen one at BN.com. But, it seems too big for me, and confusing.

[Kimberlee D.]

Newbie here. I have never belonged to a book club, although I am curious to see how they operate.

[Trisha]

I'm in an online book club. I prefer an online book club because we move so much and it's much more versatile. It's actually one that I started here on Ning because I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for after exhaustive searches online.

If we ever get to settle down in one place, I'd love to be able to start or join a face to face book club someday.

[Maddie]

I had joined a face to face bc a long time ago, but I too have the moving too much issue. I have not joined an online bc yet. I am afraid that I will have to spend too much on books, sold from the bc, the ones I can't find in the library...etc. I love to read and thought about starting a bc in our new home area, but have no idea where I would even start..., plus if its your book club are you responsible for getting the books for your club? Any suggestions?

[Corinne]

No, I don't think you should have to get the books for your club!! Usually, when I am the one in charge of suggesting books, I check to see if my library has them and if they are available used - for those who don't want to buy new books :) We always take turns hosting and offering book choices, and we just all agreed to check at the library first and let people know if each book was available at the library, in case that influenced people's votes.

[lisa]

I'm in a "real life" book club, if any of us are living real lives. We had 8 women we are back to 7, one moved. Its the perfect size. We have met for a year. We have a couple of women who want to join that we really don't want to join, and boy is that awkward.
The best book club I've ever had was the one we were in together like what 6 or 7 years ago. Are we that old? Or is it even longer than that? That club went for years and years but suddenly fizzled. I have never tried an online club. How can you have a discussion when you can't see someones face to know if you have gone too far in your enthusiasm for your side of an argument? Do you feel the same obligation to read someone elses choice of a book if you aren't going to see them in person?

[Corinne]

I was in that book club when my 8 year old was born, so EIGHT years ago :) But when I moved and then Betsey moved I don't know what happened to it. We read some great books.

I think the online thing works because of the people. We get to vote on the books, so everyone has their say in what we read - and we don't have the same people reading all the time. I'd say we've got 12 (give or take) core people who read but not everyone chimes in on every discussion question.

As for "going to far" - I think you just get to know people after a while, to know if they are getting their back up and, fortunately, we've just got some awesome members. We've had a couple fairly controversial books (Slaughterhouse Five was the most controversial) and even though these were heated, bordering on contentious discussions, we worked through that as a group and haven't had an experience like that since. Our group has expanded somewhat to people of all religions, sexes and stages of life, so everyone is respectful.

I know what you mean about not wanting the group to get too big though. There is only so much to say about some books :)

[BeckyB]

I am in a real life book club - I lead it at our library - we meet once every other month - and do a variety of genres.